Pakistan’s war against terror not yet over: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor says war against terrorism hasn’t yet ended, but most of its targets have been achieved.

In a first major press briefing here after taking charge, Maj Ghafoor insisted that national interest was above everything and vowed that Pakistan Army will respond to any misadventure befittingly.

He underlined that law and order in Balochistan wasn’t that worse as it used to be in the past.

Regarding house of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the military’s spokesperson said the arrest was a policy decision.

DG ISPR stated that Pakistan would not allow anyone to use its soil against for any ulterior purpose.

“We will do whatever possible we could do to maintain peace in Pakistan.”

He said national unity and integrity was in favour of all.

Pakistan’s reminder to India

He said Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of all disputes with India including Jammu and Kashmir but would not compromise on its dignity and honour. He said war is not solution of any problem but our desire for peace should not be construed as our weakness. He said recent successful testing of Babar-3 and Ababeel missiles is reflective of Pakistan’s resolve to defend itself.

The ISPR Director-General said India carried out 945 ceasefire violations on Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB) during the last three years. In the last four months alone, India resorted to 314 violations resulting into martyrdom of 46 civilians. He said forty Indian troops were also killed in befitting response by Pakistan.

He said Indian violations and drama of surgical strike were part of the well thought out plan to divert attention from brutalities against people in Occupied Kashmir.

Major General Asif Ghafoor said the national security depends on a number of factors including bravery, patriotism and professionalism of the armed forces as well as national solidarity and a strong democratic system.

Mentioning the situation in Afghanistan, the DG ISPR emphatically stated that Pakistan is not involved in acts of terror in Afghanistan. He said the world itself accepts the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war on terror.

‘Terrorists’ sanctuaries eliminated’

He said sanctuaries of terrorists have been eliminated in FATA. Most of the terrorists were killed in the operation while the remaining managed to take refuge in Afghanistan due to non-presence of troops on the other side of the border. He said leadership of TTP was hiding in Afghanistan.

He emphasized the need for strong relationship amongst the state institutions in order to take forward the country on the path of development. He said the entire nation stands by the state institutions to fight the menace of terrorism.

The DG ISPR said it is the stated policy of Pakistan that it will never allow the use of its territory to be used against any other country.

He said Afghanistan should take steps for improving management of its borders.